Star-systems, internet searches and recommendations from friends are all good places to start when looking for a long-term care facility for an elderly family member. None of them take the place of doing things the old-fashioned way…going out to a facility and looking for oneself. A hands on approach when looking at facilities is the only way to to ensure the pictures in the brochures are for real.
This article chronicles an 84-year-olds struggle to find a decent facility. Unfortunately, even with the aid of his daughter, finding an adequate facility was difficult. The elderly man learned the hard way that many facilities are not what they appear. After the elderly man suffered severe weight loss, urinary tract infections, dehydration, malnutrition, pressure sores and low blood sugar, due to poor care at a carefully chosen facility, the father and daughter were forced to renew their search for a place for him to live and thrive. Fortunately, the family made a record of this substandard care. The incidents of abuse and neglect were reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Read the complete Chicago Sun Time article here.
If you believe that a family member or friend has suffered abuse or neglect at a long-term care facility report it to the Illinois Department of Public Heath. The elderly in these facilities have rights. Call 1-800-252-4343 today to make a report. A call reporting the incident initiates the process. Then a State representative will go out to the facility and conduct a thorough investigation.
Make sure you have the following handy before making the call:
- The name, date of birth and social security number of the person for whom you are making the report
- The name and address of the facility where the incident took place
- A concise version of what actually occurred
- The date and time of the incident
- Provide specific detail of the injury
- Make the report as soon after the incident as feasible to ensure the investigators have access to witnesses
You may report these claims anonymously or you make provide your name. Similarly, if you provide your name you have a right to be copied on the investigation’s completion.